How to Customize Laminate Countertops

Clean the countertops with a degreasing agent. Use a scrub brush to get into all of the countertops' crevices.

Rinse the surface thoroughly with water. Use lint-free cloths to dry the remaining water.

Rough up the laminate, using medium-grit sandpaper. This ensures a good bond with the paint.

Remove large, unsightly snags with fine-grit sandpaper. Do not sand the surface smooth.

Clean off all laminate dust from the surface with a cloth.

Wipe the entire surface down with denatured alcohol. Use a clean cloth for this step. This removes any remaining residue.

Paint the countertop with a base coat, using a paint roller. Allow this to dry thoroughly.

Sand the painted surface---lightly---with fine-grit sandpaper. Rough the surface up slightly; do not remove large amounts of paint.

Clean off all the dust between each sanding with a cloth.

Apply a second and third coat of your base color with a paint roller. Remember to sand lightly between each coat.

Apply a thin coat of urethane with the paint roller. Allow it to dry before sanding lightly with fine-grit sandpaper. Allow each coat to dry before applying the next.

Apply a third and final coat of urethane. Allow it to dry thoroughly. Do not sand the final coat.

Apply enough furniture wax so water beads on the surface of the wax, not the painted countertop. Do this once the urethane has cured.